Method of managing marker entities within a document data stream

Abstract

A method for managing marker entities within a document data stream independently of the content of the data stream. The method provides consistent specification and independent processing of marker entities which may include both text and non-text data and which may be associated physically and/or logically with data stream content at the document or lower order entity level. A define marker structure control is utilized within the data stream to specify in a data type independent fashion the physical structure and content of a marker entity as well as defining any desired relationship of a marker entity with another entity within the data stream. A map marker control is then utilized to control the position within a presentation area where the marker entity is to be imaged. In this manner, the method provides a flexible, efficient and useful manner to associate a marker entity within a document data stream which may be tied to specific layout areas during presentation and which may be easily manipulated at a data stream level.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of managing marker entities within a document described by a data stream, independently of the data content of that data stream, said method comprising the steps of: establishing an environment group;   specifying within said environment group a physical structure and a plurality of permitted formats for said marker entity;   independently specifying within said data stream at least one position within a presentation area of said document; and   automatically mapping said marker entity at said at least one position within said presentation area of said document utilizing said specified physical structure and a selected one of said plurality of permitted formats wherein said position of said marker entity may be modified independently of said physical structure, format and said data content of said data stream.   
     
     
       2. The method of managing marker entities within a document described by a data stream according to claim 1, further including the step of specifying within said environment group a content for said marker entity. 
     
     
       3. The method of managing marker entities within a document described by a data stream according to claim 2, further including the step of modifying said content in response to a portion of said data content of said data stream. 
     
     
       4. The method of managing marker entities within a document described by a data stream according to claim 1, wherein said step of establishing an environment group comprises the step of establishing an environment group within said data stream.